European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                In tents on Walls what s playing for saudi troop Steve Taylor Munich Bureau a month after operation desert shield began the Exchange service began pumping in thousands of free movies a for troops in saudi Arabia. The number of videotapes and 16mm films out there has grown to More than 17,000 copies since. And though the waiting is Over and the War has begun cafes Europe does no to plan to slow Down its distribution in the desert said per Jensen a fest a movie Mogul in Munich Germany. The movies Are sent to a Central distribution Point in Dhahran saudi. Arabia and sent from their to Field units on loan. The movies Are provided free a its part of the Exchange service tradition to Send films to the troops in a War the cafes officials said. But the units must provide their own equipment and a it Heaters to show the films and videos to the troops. A the Heaters have been fairly make shift but the films seem appreciated anyway. Quot they show Mem in tents a said Ai hardening an cafes movie distribution official who set up the distribution network in saudi Arabia. A they show Mem in buildings. Or some just show them on a Wall  of the 17,000 videotapes about 12, xxx were supplied by the Exchange service. Another 5, xxx were donated by blockbuster films a videotape distributor in the United states. What a playing Harding said the films and videos Are generally those that have completed a circuit in Europe so they Are not a first run or premiere films. Always Black rain and Back to the future parts i ii and Iii War Csomo of the film titles Harding cited recently. Cafes has 292 titles showing with More added each week. The blockbuster films consist of 1,000 titles with five copies of each. Those arc also being distributed through the cafes network. A a a a a a. A. Montgomery Ward a department store Chain in the United states donated about 1,000 televisions and video recorders. Units have also purchased playback systems from the exchanges. While the movies Are free to the troops they Arentt free to cafes said Charles Poffenbarger food and services director. A Hollywood still wants its share a he said. Cafes pays about $50 per copy. Cafes has had a free movie service at Remote locations for year last year the Exchange service spent $1.6 million on that program. Because cafes is trying to use As much of its current Stock of tapes As possible Poffenbarger thinks the additional Cost of the saudi arabian distribution will Only amount to $2 0. Xxx. Cafes has also been showing free movies to troops waiting for transportation in places like Moran Spain Athens Greece and Rhein main a and Bremerhaven Germany. Jensen said that cafes Headquarters in Dallas is also in the process of procuring sports films such As the wild world of sports and Aba basketball. Fifty copies of the nil football game of  a and the super bowl a have already been sent to Dhahran to troops who done to have Access to the military a fledgling television Sec vice there. A Quot troops on their Way to saudi Arabia pass the time at Rhein main air bases a tent City with a a Star trek a a video from the Exchange service. A amps. Imti Arhat february 10.199,1 sunday. C f Page 1 a a Quot. A